News & Updates in the Libraries

The Wayne State University School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) is now accepting applications for Project IDOL (Increasing Diversity of Librarians) fall 2014 cohort.

Project IDOL is a collaboration between the Wayne State SLIS and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Library Alliance. Thanks to funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program, SLIS and the HBCU Library Alliance have joined forces to achieve greater diversity among practicing library professionals. In this three-year project, the two partner organizations will recruit, mentor and offer an online master’s degree in library and information science (MLIS) to 10 students from historically underrepresented groups. SLIS will provide the education, while the HBCU library alliance will assist with recruitment and retention by providing mentorship of the students.

Project IDOL Fellows will receive full tuition for their MLIS degree, advisory support of individual mentors, additional funds for books, conference travel and a personal computer. The degree must be completed within two years. SLIS encourages applicants from anywhere in North America, as the MLIS degree can be completed entirely online.

Interested applicants must first be accepted into the Wayne State MLIS program before being considered for Project IDOL funding. Further details about Project IDOL and full application requirements can be found at slis.wayne.edu/diversity/projectidol.php or by contacting Matt Fredericks, SLIS academic services officer, at aj8416@wayne.edu